The Gypsy Caravan

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Wednesday, March 29, 2017

If you follow me, you saw some of my spring decorating fling HERE. But for me the two coziest parts of my home are the family room and kitchen. Well, OK, the kitchen isn't that cozy -- it's just very small. But a few years ago I painted it a sunny yellow and I try to get as much holiday in it as I can!

Above is some of my Hall China collection -- Tulip and Crocus patterns. (I love how the small salt and pepper shakers on the top shelf look like eggs!). Those, combined with a Fiesta jug and some bunnies do plenty to brighten up the sink. And below? That's a painting done by my friend Kate as a thank-you card! I love it!

I need to do a little rearranging in my Ironstone flower pitcher. Just waiting for some nice real tulips instead of my overly floppy silks! It will happen.

The kitchen is connected to the family room. I love my fireplace mantle, perfect for changing things up now and then.

This plate was a very inexpensive Home Goods buy this year and sets the mood. Next to it is another of the peat pots from my peat-pot-making extravaganza!

This is the second of my egg trees. How I remember making eggs with my mom in our kitchen when I was a kid. Some of these are hers, others by me, still others purchased. All happy thoughts.

Of course I had to have my bird nests! The bird in the one below came from Deb, whose "Just Cats" blog is one of my favorites (especially if you love cats, but really, it's so much more!).

I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more bunnies this year but then I saw this one. And of course he needed a little peat pot basket. (Or is it a she?)

These lit branches stay out most of the year with different "stuffings."

And then there are wooden shoes I got last year at Southern Exposure. A few forsythia suits them just fine!

The other side of the top shelf finds two bunnies in front of a favorite photo by Cheryl Rice, who is also one of our Cork Poppers.

Years ago when Cheryl was doing art fairs, I got this one and it's moved from room to room! Perfect for spring. (Aren't those shiny eggs cute? Target bargain section, $3 for two. They're place card holders!)

Down below you'll find my favorite Hall Crocus pattern jug. Those dishes always make a spring appearance, too. (And you'll see -- even in the kitchen!)

And of course, a little crystal to pick up the light. I'm very fond of these metal bunnies.

Atop the china cabinet you will find a few things near and dear to my heart!

This sweet wooden bunny has such personality, I can't resist him. I've had that egg in front of him for longer than I can remember. It's a favorite! The photo behind him is by my friend Jane Rosemont. Sort of perfect for Easter, don't you think?

The hydrangeas and baskets came from Southern Exposure. I love the lift that the bright green gives!

And of course you will note the sweet little baby-in-a-nest next to it. That's our boy!

Across the room on another cabinet is the wreath I did at Southern Exposure several years ago. It remains one of my favorites! (Southern Exposure workshops start again next month and I can't wait!)

I added in a few touches, a sweet velvet bird, among others. Couldn't resist.

In the corner, a little village.

This egg tree (and the one you'll see in another post) are golden oldies.

And I just love these!

The Pendelfin bunnies (along with Hummels) were my first collections, started as an Easter gift from my mom. I don't see them often now and it's fun to make friends with them again!

And of course, you have to have something on the coffee table. (Well, OK, usually there is a lot on the coffee table and little falls into the category of home decor!)

I found this small aqua box at Target in the almost-a-dollar section. ($3) The bunny was an "old friend" and I added the daffodils, eggs, moss and these cute Target lights (same spot, $3 per strand.) They had them in pink and natural too, and I need to go back for more!

Another table holds a large basket of eggs.

My second "cabinet of curiosities) didn't get much of a change-up inside.

But it was fun to add a floral swag, bunnies and an Easter banner at the top!

There is even a sprig of lily of the valley for the Greeting Angel.

And some cheerful flowers and fairy lights to brighten it all up!

Then, of course, there is the family room... but we'll save that for later!

Sunday, March 26, 2017

So, when the end is near, do you think your life flashes before you? What goes through your mind?

I never really thought about that question too much until last weekend when the end came perilously near. Rick and I were driving home from dinner with our friend Jan, who was in the front seat with Rick. We were headed home on a busy one way street, a Friday around 8:30. The road was busier than it sometimes is with cars in the lanes to our left, some to the right, when we saw a police car with its lights on, rushing down a perpindicular street just at the next light -- and going through the light.

The police car turned into our one-way street -- going against traffic. And then we saw it.

He was chasing another car, coming straight toward us in our lane, driving at an extreme rate of speed. The police car was in hot pursuit, again headed straight toward us.

We were within just a few feet of being slammed head-on when Rick swerved the car into the lane to our right. Fortunately, no one was there.

Without his quick reflexes I am confident that this would have been one of those blogs where people simply disappear and you always wonder. Are they ill? Are they traveling? Will they write here again? Did they just give up blogging?

Those of you who know me might send an email that would be unanswered. Others would simply give up.

I've thought a lot about that evening over the last few days. I think about it all the time. I've thought about how grateful I am for Rick's quick thinking, although I think it was more instinct than anything else. He learned, when racing bicycles on the velodrome, how to avoid collisions, as velodrome bikes don't have brakes. You swerve. Remember that one.

I've thought about how grateful I am there was no one in the lane into which we swerved. There was no time to look. That, too, could have been a crash and probably a debilitating one -- but not so fatal as the alternative.

I've thought about Lizzie, who would be expecting me home and no one realizing that she was there alone, hungry, wondering when her people would come feed her.

I've thought about being grateful that I had no unfinished business with people. No arguments outstanding. No bad will. And it reminded me that I should see more often the people I care about as our busy lives often fail to connect.

When I saw the headlight of the car coming toward us (one headlight was out) I was shocked but calm. No screaming. Until that very instant after when we were safe. And then I shook like a leaf.

All of us have had follow-up issues. We can't find anything about an arrest in the news, so what happened? This chase began in another county but why in the world would an urban chase involve the police chasing backwards on a busy one-way street? Is an arrest more important than the danger all the drivers in that area were faced with? For if that car had collided with us head-on, it wouldn't just be us that felt the aftermath. Without doubt cars would have careened into others and many people would have been hurt.

I truly believe that God, the universe -- call it what you will -- had more work for all three of us to do on this earth. What that work is, I don't know. Being kind? Helping others? Some great mission we've yet to discover?

I don't know. I probably never will. What I do know is that I will forever be grateful, thankful. I will value the life I live even more than I did before. I will continue to live each day in a way that if it was to be my last it would be the best it could be.

And yes, I've always believed in angels. And they were with us that night.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Now that I've settled back from vacation, I'm getting into spring decorating mode! It's one of my favorite seasons to deck the halls because the colors are so fresh and lively -- and in Michigan, we need that! So before I left, I did a little crafting -- making an Easter Banner!

I started out with banner templates (Michael's -- on sale for $2.95) and went through my pile of papers -- scrapbook, wallpaper and some larger decorative sheets, cutting out triangles using the template and gluing them together. Then I punched holes in the tops.

I made the "medallion" by pleating this pretty multi-colored crepe paper (an old Dollar Tree find!). I stapled the first half of the crimping and then made a line of glue along the inside (crimping) edge and finished up.

Then using wallet-sized printouts from my online images collections (mostly from old Easter postcards), I cut circles which I trimmed down to better fit the medallion and glued them together.

What a pretty bunch of triangles!

I finished them off by adding a button at the point.

After arranging them by color and design, I added a pale blue ribbon from my stash to tie them together, leaving a long tail for hanging.

I run the ribbon through the back, up through the hole on one side so it is now on the front; knot it on the front and then put the long ribbon back through the hole -- and up through the hole of the next banner flag. Then knot, back through the hole to the back of that piece and up through the hole on the other side of the same piece, knot, through the hole and attach the next one.

OR you can knot in front and connect to the next banner triangle from the front. If you look at the two photos of completed banners below you'll see the difference of how they look depending on how you string them.

It sounds confusing but you really get a rhythm after the first! And there you have it -- a cheerful banner to get the season started!

Strung connecting the triangles from the front

If you want, you can go to town with glitter and more ribbons (I actually think I'll add a couple more ribbons to the ends of both of the banners I made), use other embellishments to glitz it up, depending on your theme!

Strung connecting the triangles from the back.

(Now it's time to get out the nests, bunnies and Easter Egg tree! Well, as you can see, one is already out!)

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About Gypsy!

The Marmelade Gypsy was a big orange cat who happened into my life when he was abandoned long ago and took up residence in the window well. Within a few months, he had moved inside the house and took up residence inside my heart (and on the couch, in the window, on the bed...) He was one sweet boy, the ultimate cat who served as pet therapist, executive assistant and secret keeper. He will always hold a huge spot in my heart. Goodbye, Mr. Gyps.

Lizzie Cosette

Lizzie Cosette may be neither marmelade nor a gypsy, but she is indeed a "Marmee," as the March sisters in "Little Women" referred to their mother. Found in an abandoned garage with three kittens, she was fostered until she found a new home and human to love her.

Happy Together!

Every step of the way I will walk with you and never leave you stranded. -- Rumi

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About Me

I live with the guiding principles of joy, compassion, fun, friendship, family, love, creativity and happiness. I love sharing my art, my family history, my world and equally enjoy hearing about yours.